2010 Olympic Mascot Query Generates Twicthy Vanoc Response

On Saturday we published my story about the soon-to-be announced Olympic and Paralympic mascots. As the world now knows, the Vancouver Organizing Committee will unveil the “critters”, as CEO John Furlong calls them, on Tuesday.What you may not know is the degree to which Vanoc officials tried very hard not to talk about the mascot program before the launch, for fear of accidentally giving out too many details in advance of the launch.For a week I had been after Vanoc for an interview with the creative design department about the process of choosing the right mascot. Vanoc was understandably concerned that such an interview would result in a trail of crumbs being published that would reveal the identities of the mascots – of which we know there are at least two.After much consideration, Vanoc’s communications department agreed to make Ali Gardiner, the director of brand and creative services, and Maureen Douglas, the communications director for the mascot program, available for an interview.But they warned me in advance that there were some questions they considered “risky” and would prefer I not ask. Some, I did, but with predictable results.You may find it interesting to see what Vanoc felt would be “off-limits” but which will become public soon enough.

Risky:

Where did you do the focus groups and when?

What did you tell the focus group participants that they’d be looking at?

Who else have you consulted with? First Nations? The Premier?

How many people have seen them?

How many are there?

Where did you register the names?

How many artists worked on them?

What kinds of companies make the costumes and how did you choose the successful company?

How many sets of costumes will be out on the road at any one time?

What kinds of characteristics are you looking for in the people who will be the mascots?